Job offers: Increase your salary – just by asking!

Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — What if you could increase your compensation just by asking? Would you? If you’ve been in the job market for a while, and you finally get a job offer, your first reaction is likely, “Hooray, an offer!” The last thing you want to do is put it at risk. Isn’t that exactly what you’d be doing if you started to negotiate?

What if you countered, “I was hoping the offer would be a little higher in the range for this position? What can we do about that?” You must be practiced and prepared to remind them, in bullet points, all the reasons hiring you is a good investment. Smile, breathe deeply and don’t stumble. Keep your voice calm and confident. There is a big difference between begging and negotiating. Be clear which you are engaged in.
Know that 80% of the time, the offer starts low — in anticipation of negotiation. Failure to negotiate leaves money behind, money the employer was prepared to give. Is this scary? Yes! But what have you got to lose, except thousands of dollars a year?
Article by Pat Schuler, Business Development Coach, and reprinted from TheCareerNews.com. Get the latest breaking News, Tips and Tools for your job search, Free!